Food additive databasethickener / stabilizerChecked 2026-10-02

Sodium Alginate アルギン酸ナトリウム

Designated additivePermitted in the EU (E401)

Purpose: thickener / stabilizer
On the label: “増粘剤（アルギン酸Na）” (thickener (sodium alginate)), “安定剤（アルギン酸Na）” (stabilizer (sodium alginate)), “ゲル化剤（アルギン酸Na）” (gelling agent (sodium alginate))
Name in the List of Designated Additives: アルギン酸ナトリウム (No. 39)

In Japan

The sodium salt of alginic acid, used to thicken or to hold shape (thickener and stabilizer). There are no standards for use.
When used as a thickener, stabilizer, gelling agent, or paste (“糊料”), the purpose name must be written alongside (it is among the examples of purpose names that must be written alongside). The short name is “アルギン酸Na” (sodium alginate).

Japan's standards for use

There are no standards for use that limit which foods or how much (the general standards for all additives still apply).

This is a summary of the standards for use. See the source list for the exact conditions.

In the EU

It is on the EU list of food additives (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II) as E401.

When it is labeled under a shared name

Sodium Alginate may be declared on the label in the same way as “増粘剤・安定剤・ゲル化剤”. See Thickener / stabilizer / gelling agent for details.

Sources

Checked 2026-10-02. Rules and evaluations change over time. This page is a translation of our Japanese page; if they differ, the Japanese page is the reference.

This page lists facts stated in laws and in evaluations by public bodies; it is not a safety verdict. Additives used in Japan are approved by the government, which sets the foods and amounts they can be used in. The ADI is a guide to the amount that is considered safe to take every day over a lifetime.

Other substances used as thickener / stabilizer

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